How Was It Built?

A phased approach was taken toward the achievement of project goals.

See below for information about how the CU Boulder budget model was built, including a timeline of the redesign project and detailsÌýabout theÌýgovernance structure and project committees.

As of June 2022,ÌýtheÌýBudget Model Redesign projectÌýis in phase 3, called Implementation Readiness.

Budget Model Redesign Phases

Diagnostic

Phase 1

Nov. 2020-Feb. 2021

  • "Alignment analysis" between guiding principles and current state across:
    • Stakeholder interview themes
    • Funds flows and incentives
  • Context on historical allocations, including benchmarking
  • Determine Design Committee membership and distribute invitations
Solution Design

Phase 2

Jan. 2021-May 2022

  • Determine organizational structure of the budget model
  • Design Committee builds a customized prototype based on data gathered and initial decisions made by the Executive Sponsors
  • TheÌýStrategic Alignment Committee (SAC)Ìýrefines prototype recommendations, further developing the model
  • Continue campus engagement
Implementation Readiness

Phase 3

June 2022-Present

  • Determine long-term governance andÌýpotential needed changes to complimentary university budget processes
  • Define governance roles and responsibilities
  • Build budget templates andÌýtools
  • Provide training for university stakeholders

Governance Structure

Executive Sponsors

Oversees process and receives recommendations from the Strategic Alignment Committee.

Strategic Alignment Committee

Ensures alignment of new budget model with CU Boulder’s mission and strategic priorities; solicits, reviews and approvesÌýmodel design recommendations made byÌýthe Design Committee; presents refined design recommendations to Executive Sponsors; engages with and receives input from stakeholders.

  • E. Scott Adler, , Dean and Vice Provost, Graduate School
  • Chantal Baca, At-Large Representative, CU Boulder Staff Council
  • Austin Jamar "JB" Banks, Acting Vice Chancellor forÌýStudent Affairs
  • Scott Battle,ÌýActingÌýDean of Continuing Education &ÌýProfessional Studies
  • Lori Bergen, Dean, College of Media, Communication, and Information (CMCI)
  • , CU Student Body President
  • Jeffrey Cox,Ìý Academic Futures Co-Chair, Distinguished Professor of English
  • John Davis, Dean, College of Music
  • Terri Fiez, Vice Chancellor forÌýResearch & InnovationÌý& Dean of the Institutes
  • Lisa FloresÌýIDEA Plan Co-Chair, Associate Professor of Communication
  • , Dean, University of babyÖ±²¥app Law School
  • David Kang Vice Chancellor forÌýInfrastructure & Sustainability
  • Omar Laris, Graduate and Professional Student Government Representative
  • Sharon Matusik, Dean, Leeds School of Business
  • Robert McDonald, Dean, University Libraries, and SVP of Online Education
  • Keith Molenaar, Interim Dean, College of Engineering & Applied Science
  • Michele Moses, Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs
  • Scott Parker, Boulder Faculty Assembly Budget and Planning Committee Chair, Professor of Physics
  • Katherine Schultz, Dean, School of Education
  • James White, Interim Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Akirah Bradley, James Anaya, and Sarah Thompson also served.
Design Committee

Provides data, data analysis, modeling of design options, strategic communication plans; provides support for the Strategic Alignment Committee; convenes topic-specific working groups as needed.

  • Maia Andreasen, Executive Director of Finance, PolicyÌýandÌýBusiness Administration, Student Affairs
  • Danielle Brunner (co-chair), Director of Budget and Finance, Academic Affairs
  • Mandy ColeÌý(co-chair), Assistant Vice Chancellor ofÌýBudget Management, Budget and Finance
  • Andrew Cowell, Professor of Linguistics
  • Lina Day, Director of Budget and Finance,ÌýCollege of Media, Communication, and Information (CMCI)
  • Stephanie Gillin, Associate Dean of Administration andÌýFinance, Leeds School of Business
  • Carrie Howard, Assistant Dean of Budget and Finance, College of Music
  • Erin Hutchinson, Executive Director of Planning and Procurement, Office of Information Technology
  • Jessica Keating, Assitant Director of Assessment Insights, Office of Data Analytics
  • Gina Langfield, Finance and Accounting Director, Undergraduate Education and ODECE
  • Amy Lavens, Vice Dean of Finance and Administration, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Karen Regan, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Research and Innovation Office (RIO)
  • Ron Ried, Director of Business Services, Infrastructure and Sustainability
  • Jonathan Rogers, Tisone Professor of Accounting, Leeds School ofÌýBusiness
  • Bobby Schnabel, Department External Chair in Computer Science, College of Engineering
  • Katrina Spencer (chair), Associate Vice Chancellor of Budget and Finance
  • Nancy Tway, Senior Budget, Finance, HR and Faculty Affairs Liason, Research and Innovation Office (RIO)
  • Aisha Jackson, Terra McKinnish, Seth Spielman, Tobi Withrow, Angie Naillon, Cindy Thill, Katie Walker and Gina Houck also served.

Timeline of the Budget Model Redesign Project

  1. January 2017

    Campus Stakeholder Interviews

    Campus stakeholder interviews indicate the budget model lacks transparency, flexibility and mechanisms to support strategic, mission-aligned priorities. Stakeholders included deans, administrative leaders, babyÖ±²¥app, staff and students.

  2. September 2017

    Need for a New Budget Model

    Initiatives including Academic Futures, Foundations of Excellence, IDEA Plan, Strategic Facilities Visioning and Financial Futures further articulate a need for a new budget model.Ìý

  3. November 2019

    Campus Leadership

    Campus leadership launch preparatory work for the budget model redesign.

  4. March 2020

    COVID

    Redesign put on hold due to COVID pandemic.

  5. December 2020

    Launch

    Chancellor launches budget model redesign.

  6. January 2021

    Executive Sponsors

    Executive sponsors determine initial design parameters; Strategic Alignment Committee (SAC) is convened.

  7. February 2021

    Design Committee

    Design Committee (DC) is convened; solution design begins.

  8. March 2021

    Stakeholder Interviews

    Redesign working team conducts stakeholder interviews with 114 academic and administrative leaders in 38 units.

  9. April 2021

    Listening Sessions & Presentations

    Over 200 CU Boulder babyÖ±²¥app, staff and students attend sixÌýthematic listening sessions and three Coffee & the Campus Budget presentations.

  10. October 2021

    Budget Prototype Sessions

    Budget prototype sessions with each college dean; 85 people attend 2 Coffee and the Campus Budget sessions.

  11. January 2022

    Model Prototype

    Model prototype shared with campus leaders as Strategic Alignment and Design committees refine model components.

  12. February 2022

    Town Hall Presentations

    Twenty-three town hall-style prototype presentations to babyÖ±²¥app and staff in colleges and schools.

  13. May 2022

    Model Approved

    Model approved by executive sponsors; announced to campus; SAC and DC adjourned.

  14. August 2022

    Working Groups

    Implementation working groups convened.ÌýMembers of shared governance, deans, finance leaders, and other stakeholders develop processes, policies and tools needed to support the model and ensure that it aligns with the university’s mission.

  15. July 2022

    Implementation

    New budget implemented in a "hold harmless" first year.